Join Santa Claus and his elves for a magical ride behind Portland’s famous steam locomotives. Vintage rail cars transport you through wilderness in the heart of the city. Round-trip rides run from Oaks Park Station through Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge to the Springwater Trail gateway on the Oregon Pacific Railroad.

Holiday Express Train Operations & Experience

Trains operate in two or three shifts per day. This allows our volunteers to take a break, and for the train crew to service the locomotive. Each block of time offers a variety of scenes, such as the morning’s moody layers of fog, the late afternoon low-angle sun, and the evening lights.

Each trip takes approx. 40-45 minutes round trip.

Be on time! Holiday Express trains depart at the advertised time.

Arrive at Oaks Park Station at least 20 min. early to pick up your tickets and be ready to board.

Trains traverse on the Oregon Pacific Railroad along the Willamette River in SE Portland.

Due to the structural features and historic nature of the Holiday Express passenger equipment, there is increased danger of injury if wheelchair devices are loaded onto the train. For this reason the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 USC section 12184) expressly exempts trains of this type from accommodating wheelchair devices. Today’s Holiday Express volunteers have been directed to allow all ticketed individuals onto the Holiday Express, as they are able, however no wheeled devices can be safely accommodated.

We at the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation are dedicated to making rail excursions accessible to everyone and to making your experience comfortable and enjoyable. Passengers who can board independently or with assistance from their companions are welcome to board the train. On-board transfers cannot be accommodated at this time. Passengers must be able to climb seven steps and then walk at least 85 feet to a seat. We are pleased to offer one of our limited number of wheelchairs to passengers with limited walking ability to get from the tent to trainside.

Please be assured that the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation is committed to making reasonable accommodations to the Holiday Express and similar rail excursions. Our goal is to make the historic rail experience more accessible to Portland residents and visitors. We hope that you follow our progress toward that goal and that one day soon, more of us will be able to ride the rails together. In the meantime, displays and a video are located inside the main tent for all visitors to view. We hope that this virtual experience will help to bring us one step closer to our vision of safe access for all.

ORHF operates a restoration facility and museum where volunteers restore and repair the City-owned steam locomotives year ‘round. This new home provides ORHF with the “rail challenge of a lifetime” as we build a heritage rail experience, unparalleled in Portland. This facility is accessible, allowing everyone to get close and personal with the steam engines.

To follow ORHF’s continued progress, please visit our web page www.orhf.org or send an email to info@orhf.org for up to date information.

Thank you for your interest in preserving Oregon’s rail history!

Click the logo below to purchase your Holiday Express tickets now!

Thanks to our Partners!

Our Mission

To provide for the preservation, operation and public enjoyment of Portland's historic locomotives, railroad equipment, and artifacts, and to educate the public about Oregon’s rich and diverse railroad history.

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